Fog hits visibility in Delhi, air quality touches ‘severe’

NEW DELHI: Train and flight operations were hit on Monday as the capital saw shallow to moderate fog in parts of Delhi on Christmas morning, with visibility falling to 300 metres at 7.30am.

Meanwhile, the air quality was recorded ‘very poor’ on Monday. The situation deteriorated after sunset with nine out of 17 stations of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in the city recording ‘severe’ air quality.

Met officials, however, predicted a clear day on Tuesday — with the minimum and maximum temperatures expected to be around 7 and 23 degrees Celsius — as the mercury continues to plummet. The maximum temperature on Monday was recorded at 22.8 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was recorded at 7 degrees Celsius – one notch below normal for the season.

On Monday morning, 26 trains were delayed or rescheduled and 17 trains were cancelled due to poor visibility, railway officials said. The cancelled trains included the Gomti Express 12420 to Lucknow and the Uchahar Express 14217 to Chandigarh among others.

Railway officials said all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure mishap-free runs in addition to the special fog-gear added to all trains this winter. “Passengers should check their schedule once before heading to the station as most trains are getting delayed,” said an official.

The delays have also affected both arrival and departure of flights at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. Officials, however, said they are normal for the season, even as the city is yet to witness dense fog. Over 50 departures and arrivals were affected — with at least three departing flights cancelled — according to the airport’s website.

The day’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 372, classified as ‘very poor’ by CPCB. The hourly graph of the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management of the CPCB reflected the rising trend of PM2.5 and PM10.